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.1817 





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TO THE PUBLIC. 

The design of the writer of this work, is to re- 
vive in the minds of the public, the many strug- 
gles our fathers endured in the cause of freedom. 

There is hardly a person living in Rhode Is- 
iand, and more especially in Little Compton and 
Tiverton, but what had a near or distant relative 
who was a soldier and took an active part in the 
Revolution, and the war with Great Eritian in 
1812. and 15. 

The Author has taken great pains to draw his 
ir. formation from parties while living, and it is 
autheiitically correct and reliable. To cherish 
the memory of those departed friends, and their 
heroic deeds — every person should be the posses- 
rsor and owner of this little Phamphlet^ because 
it oontains information never before given to the 
public, and which is worth retaining in every tani- 
ily. Long may they be remembered with great- 
ful hearts in our time^ and all coming time, by 
tlie decendants of those who fought and bled that 
we might be free, is the desire of the 

Autlior. 

Little Compton, R. L 1880. 



INTERiSSTING INCIDENTS 
in Little Compton, R. I , during the Rev- 
olntion and the war of 1812. 

IF the Spartans decreed public honors iv 
those who sent forth their sons to bleed and die 
in defence of their country, what a wreath of glo- 
ry ought to eitown the heroic valor of those who 
fought and bled to obtain our freedom and liber 
ty. A proper regard for these old heroes, is cal 
culated to afford gi-eat satisfaction to every patri- 
otic mind and every christian. It serves to 
strenghten our memory of heroic deeds and im- 
portant events — it holds up worthy and useiul 
persons for imitation — it excites gratitude to 
heaven and leads at once to a just estimate of the 
privileges we enjoy ; from the great sufferings 
and exertions they endured, to secure and pro- 
mote the happiness and welfare of posterity. 



We cannot pass over these events, witliout in- 
timating the associations connected with those 
historical scenes. 

There are many unpublished incidents in the 
history of the American Revolution and of the 
war of 1812 and 15, that are deserving of often 
being reueated and retained in the archives uf 
memory/ In the year 1834, the writer of the 
following reminiscences, was a Justice of the 
Peace in the town of Little Compton, and was 
qualified agreeable to the requirments of the war 
department, to aid the old soldiers and widows, 
in procuring a pension. At that time, there 
were then living in the town, forty-six men who 
drew a pension ; but in the short space of three 
years only twenty-three were living, the others 
having fought their last battle with death, and 
had been gathered to the ranks of their com- 
rades. 

The following is the names of those old heroic 
soldiers of Littfe Compton, which we give below 
that their names might be handed down to pos- 
terity and ever kept in sacred remembrance. 

Benoni Simmons, Navy, Owen Grinnell, 
Frank Wilbour, land & navy. Gideon Churoh, 
Isaac Simmons, John Springer, Joseph/Church 
George Brown, Thomas White, Sanfoid Almy, 
William Hunt, Edward Woodman, Robert Wood- 
man, Dr. John Almy, Hezekiah Wilbour. Sam- 
uel Wilbour, navy. Wililam Grinnell, James 



5 

Walden, Gamaliel Tompkiiis, Elijah Tompkins- 
Xathaiiiel Tomkiiis, Gideon Tompkins, Gideoii 
Seabury, Brownell Stoddard, Thomas Wilbonr, 
Seth Shaw, Noah Shaw, James Tompkins, Ben- 
jamin Tompkins, navy. Charles Manchester, 
Rouse Fearce, Right Pearce, Gideon Brownell, 
Gardner Brownell, Thomas Briggs, Benedict 
Palmer, Ichabod Pearce, Joseph Wilbour, Sam- 
uel Bailey, Sylvester Brownell, David Tompkins 
Joseph Pearce, John Taber, William Seabury 
and host Irom Tiverton. 

At the time Lafayette came as a passenger in 
the United States ship Aliance. to America, to 
aid our feeble Colonies in the cause of human 
rights and freedom, one of the above named pen- 
sioners and patriots, Mr. Benoni Simmons, wa:^ 
in the naval service and was on board the Ai- 
a ice. He said that during the passage they fell 
in with one of His Majestie'ci British Men vt' 
War, and while preparations were being made 
for an engagment, General Lafayette approacli- 
ed the Commander with pure French politness 
and requested the honor of taking cliarge of the 
quarter-deck guns, which was granted, and while 
ill action which lasted but a short time before the 
British surrendered; the quarter deck was clean- 
ed of every man three times, while the General 
stood boldly and unflinchi-gly alone upon the 
deck unharmed. It seems that it was through 
the interposition of a kind Providence, that the 



6 



General escaped unscathed. Mr. Simmons was 
a ship carpenter by trade, but while in the navy, 
his right arm was shot off near his body by a can- 
non bill ; but after peace was established, and 
people quieted down at their own homes, he per 
sued his former occupation at shipbuilding, and 
it was said that he would hew more timber and 
do a greater day's work with one hand and that 
liis left, than any ordinary ship carpenter. He 
died in full faith of universal salvation at the ripe 
age of 79 years, in Little Compton, and is bur- 
ied on the Commons. 

Frank Wilbour, another of our naval pension 

esofthe Revolution, wliile cruising the Ocean, 

i.dlin with oneoftheenemie's armed vessels 

a id she being much the heaviest metal, audit 

]>eing a perfect calm, the yankees decided on 

boarding her. Tlie barge in which Mr. Wilbour 

Avas in, pulled up under the stern of the enemy. 

.,nd as a rolling sea lifted the barge, Mr. Wilbor 

.^ ithont orders made a leap for a cabin window, 

'.lid luckily caught hold of the casing and haul- 

in- liimself up by his hands, he tried to get into 

he cabin, but being a broad shouldered man, he 

found it a difhcul task, but seeing a female m the 

llie cabin who appeared; much frightened at 

s eing a man entering her room, he stammered 

out and said— "De dear wo-man don't be fri-ln- 

tcncd I, I wo- wont .harm you ; for Gods sake 

help me to get in." She took hold of him and 



Sketches & Incidents, 

IN 

Little Compton & Tiverton. 
during the 

REVOLUTION, 

and the war of 

1812. 

By P. F. Little, Esq. 

Never Before Piibliskd- "; ; 



LITTLE COMPTON, R. I- 1880. 






^S'f ^o 



with groat exertion pulled him in. Thanking ner 
he iinmeJiately van upon deck with a pistol in 
each- hand and before tlie boats had got along 
side, cried out with a loud voice, ''You arc 
lakan ! \-ou are takeu !! submit and surrender ; 
for 'he cabin is full of men.." The whole crew 
otliceis.and alb, were conipletely panic-stricken 
iit this suddan declaration;, and seeing the boats 
al )i!g sid'e. they surrendored without opposition » 
It was really amusing to hear tlie old hero re- 
la' e t]^c advcntnie in his peculiar waj; more es- 
.> oia^lv ^f^-'ien '-n. eai-i-ej^t a:id siainmered r,ut, — 



"uini ed.di did, and so I did and I iust made 



j 

'.) -'t to re-reach the cabin win 'window 1 did,, and 
il^if it had ]in^npt been for the go-^good wo-womnn 
l.I rLCvcr siio-shoiild got into ih4he cabin I know 
1 Bhonld'ut," "The British was terribly scared 
when they ses me on the quar-quartcr deck.— 
I' ad thrygiv-give ri-riglit uv>. and-and it saved a 
good deal oi blo^d be~being shed so it did.' ' 
Mr. Wilbour, was afterwards promoted in con- 
isderafion of this heroic. act. He also did good 
service against t'nc enemy after leaving the navy. 
He soon alter joined the army, and was in Sul- 
livan's Exriedition upon Rhode Island. He liv- 
ed to a good old age, and died, leaving many 
liind and warm friends behind. 

AVhile the Brittish held possession of the Is- 
laiid of Rhode Island and Newport, a period of 
nearly three years, during which, there was ex- 



8 

trem suffering, causing about one half of the cit- 
izens of the Island to flee to Tiverton and Little 
Compton, and it was deemed expedient for the 
safety of property and the people to have guard 
duty performed along our shores, from Rowland's 
Ferry in Tiverton, to Seaconnet Point in Little 
Compton. The first guard-house was called the 
Rouse hous, eunder the command of Capt. John 
Davis. The house was located on Brimstone-hill 
so called, on the west side of the road leading 
from Tiverton 4 Corners to Seaeonnet-point, and 
once owned and occupied by the late Charles 
Irish. The second was called the Red-house un- 
der the command of Captain Ephraim Simmons, 
and is now owned and kept in good repair by 
Col. Amsa Gray, and there is a fair prospect of 
its standing another century, to mark the watch- 
ful spot of revolutionary date. IThe third guard 
house, was the Col Rlchni'ond house, under the 
command of Capt. William Richmond, This is 
situated in a south and west direction from the 
Red house, near the shore, iiM M pi^sent is owu- 
ed by Mr, William Chace. The Mrth was call- 
ed the Langley or Coe-house. under the command 
of Capt. Benjamin Coe. This house stands near 
the Wind-mills and where the Hon. Albert T. 
Seabury now resides. The fifth was called 

the Taggart house, under the command of Capt. 
Thomas Church- situated at Church's Cove or 
Breakwater, near the mansion of His Excellency 



9 

Gov. 8isson Seaconnet point, and was standing 
tliere alone to tell of other days, until removed a 
iew years past. It was here at this guard-house 
that Mr. Taggart fell a sacrifice to his country 
by British cruelty, of whom we shall speak of 
in another place. 

The British had three armed ships moored off 
in Seaconnet River, located in the middle of the 
i-iver and at a proper distance from each other tu 
cut off all commucation from the main land, and 
1" prevent American vessels from pa«^sing up the 
] iver with supplies for our army. The lirst was 
anciiord off Gov. \'v ii'oou 's shore now his grand- 
s(jn Isaac C, Wilbour, and the south east shore 
(jf (lie Island. The second was moored off op- 
posite the guard or Rouse-house ; third or last, 
was anchored off opposite the Woodman farm 
in a south and west direction from High Hill. 

This vessel the King Fisher, was very I'unoy- 
iiig to the Yankees, and they determined to get 
rid of liter. Accordingly every -effort was brought 
into requisition to accomplish ihis noble design. 
The 5^ankees hastily threw up an earth work in 
the niglit at High Hill, which was the only pro- 
tection from a broad-side of the enemy of giape 
shot &G. They brought what few small canon 
they could find from a breast-woiK at Foghuid 
Point ; and at the appointed time this little com- 
pany of selected yankees, opened their Battery 
on the one object — ''His Maisties Ship of War 



10 

.mu Fislicr/' They played upon her so nice 
^.rirrsmartfor an hour or two, that the british 
^ew l\)und it to hot, and after applying a slo:w 
ivvvch to tlio magazine, fled in their barges to 
o 10 of tlie '.)ther ship?^. lying fnrther down the bay 
The Kingfisher soon blew up with a tremeu- 
(IIoiis report and the hnlk drifted on shore and 
a living cat, V)nt badly singed, which came on 
Fbore on. a plank. Fuss was well provided for, 
and lived to a good old age. 

Tl-.o hjjlk of the Kingfisher went on shore at 
v-liat is called ^'High Hill,\ near Fogland, and 
the earth-work fortification, remains undisturbed 
exccDt by Ihe lapse of time, as a relic of their la- 
hur^ The .ribs of the old Kingfisher still lies 
oiuhedcd in the sand, standing as a monument 
it ihni event in a very good stale of perpevalion, 
but covered with sea moss, where the tide ebbs 
and flows, and can be seen ])y any one. ^ . 
Ti.g; c is a six pound cannon now^ in Little Comp- 
' :n. in care of' Preston B. Richmond, of revolu- 
1 .oriary date, which was used by our patriotic fa- 
Miers wlien the King-fisher was distroyd, arid is 
r.nv, v.srdin observing the birth of our Repub- 
«(' It was freely used in firing on the arrival 
i:\ xh.Q news of the surrender of Lee's army ; and 
ihc capture of Jeff Pavis, and downfall ot the 
Bebelion. 

Willie the Britisli were in possession of Rhode 
LdiiJid, th.ere was a j rrticular rock, called the 



11 

the "Post Office," near Taggart's Ferry. It's 
name arose from the fact that a Mr. Taggart then 
residing at or near the ferry, corresponded with 
the soldiers at Little Compton, and from time to 
time gave the plans and movements of the Brit- 
ish army through this '^Post-Office Rock," not- 
withstanding a constant guard was kept to pre- 
vent all communication with the main land, 

Mr. Taggart, would write a letter giving full 
particulars of what the English was up too, and 
m the darkness of the night when all was quiet, 
he would go out slyly and deposit his letter under 
this rock, then hasten hack to his house and seta 
light in a certain window that might be distinct- 
ly seen from the main-land, to denote there wai^ a 
letter st the Post oihce for them« "Uucle Sam's 
Boys," would then man a boat, and with muffl- 
ed oar pass the guard ship a'ld go to the post-office. 
This he continued for a longtime, or until they be- 
came suspicious of his doings, when he made his 
escape from the Island, and came to Little Comp- 
ton, where he performed guard duty until he was 
unmercifully killed as follows. He was acting as 
sentinel at the Taggart house Seaconnet Point, 
on the farm of Gov. Sisson, when unexpectedly 
the enemie's barge came round a point probable 
where the break-water now is ;— Mr. Taggart 
immediately gave the alarm and fought the com- 
pany manfully for some tim3 ; when they effect- 
ed a landing and persued after him. He then 



12 

attempted to escape by jumping over a wall near 
tlie guard-house, but just as he mounted the wall 
a musket ball from the enemy fractured his leg, 
and while lying helpless upon the ground, they 
shamefully and inhumanly put a bayonet through 
his body. Thus ended his useful life to the dis- 
grace of British. Mr. Taggart was often beared 
to say that he never would be taken ^live by them. 

The Post Office Department never had a bet- 
ter or a more faithful and energetic post-master, 
than Mr. Taggart. 

At one time while upon the Island, he commu- 
nicated through this Post-Office Rock, that on 
certain nights some half dozen Hessians partroll- 
ed the shores on the east side of the Island, and 
hinted that it would be a good plan for the yan- 
kees to gobble them up. Whereupon Doct. John 
Almy with six others from Little Compton, in the 
night time, took a boat at Taylor's Lane, un-be- 
known to any one, and proceeded across the riv- 
er to Rhode Island, a distance of three or four 
miles, and landed at what is called Taggart' s-fer- 
ry. Leaving one man in charge of the boat they 
proceeded north along the bank, until they came 
10 a wall extending east and west to the shore 
a little south of Holme's cart-way or landing. 
Here they made a stand and concealed them- 
selves behind the north side of the wall, close to 
the barway, and waited the approach of the Hes- 
piaus. They had been watching about half an 



13 

hour, when they discovered six Hessians coming 
mounted on horseback, and as they were abou 
to pass through the barway, the boy's rose u] 
suddenly with guns cocked and fixed bayonets 
and ordered them to stand, dismount and surren 
der ; to vv'hich they unhesitatingly complied with 
out resistance. They then began to interrogati 
and quiz them smartly, but could not obtain anj 
valuable information respecting the British army 
After parleying with them awhile, they t6ok fron 
^hem their coats, equipage, side arms, horseblan 
kets^ saddles, bridles &c., then turned their hors 
es lose and marched them to their boat at the 
ferry, and would fain brought them off, but th* 
]>oat being small, they let them go on conditions 
they would keep quiet until they were safely off. 

These adventurers arrived back to Seaconne' 
shore just as the day was breaking, passing with 
in a few yards of the enemy's ship undiscoverec 
although they could distinctly hoar the sentinali 
step pacing the deck. They brought with then 
their booty as a tropliy of their courage. 

We have heard the old Doctor who was Cap 
tain of the expedition, relate the incident with s 
hearty laugh to think how they frightened th( 
poor Hessians. 

There were many soldiers in Little Compton 
v\'ho was in Sullivans Expedition, but we are no 
able at this remote period to mention but five, t* 
wit : — Benedict Palmer, Frank Wilbour, Will- 



14 

iam Hunt, Thomas White, and John Springer. 
They were under the command of Captain 
Ephraim Simmons, of the north company of Lit- 
tle Compton, and belonged to Col. John Cook b 
reoiment. They crossed over Howland's Ferry 
to'Portsmouth, and was in the battle's fought on 
the Island, and at ihe battle at Butt's Hill. 

Sullivan made gve^t preparations for a battle 
with the enemy. He had mounted IT pieces oi 
Iroavey cannon, two 10 inch mortars and 3 hve 
and a half liowitzers. In connection with Ihe 
French fieet under Count D' Estagn, which had 
arrived on the coast, the yankees resolved to 
drive and dislodge the enemy from the Island 
^nd Newport, at which place they had retired in 
great fear, while nearly every British ship on 
llie coast was sunk or burnt. Just on the eve of 
the Mnericans making an attack upon the enemy 
a British fleet of 36 battle ships, appeared off 
Point Judith from New York. Count D' Estagn 
bein- eager for light, immediately got his Frcncli 
fleet underway to meet them ; -but a severe storm 
coming on. tlic French and English fleets were 
l>oth seriously injured. A number oi the largest 
French ships, one of 90 guns was dismasted and 
put awav for Boston to repair damages, leaving 
the Anicrican army alone to fight its own battle. 
The storm it is said on the land was as disas- 
tiT-us as on the sea. Not a tent was left stand. 
ji^c. __thG amr.nition was spoiled, aud horses and 



15 

men died from wet and exposure. On the 20th 
day of August, a large portion of the enlisted 
militia's time expired, and left in large squads, 
and the American army was reduced to a force 
much less than the invaders. The American ar- 
my were drawn up and extended nearly or quite 
across the Island near Quaker Hill, and the bat- 
tle commenced in earnest and raged with energy 
fur a week ; but the great battle between Butts 
and Quaker Hill of August 29th, will long be re- 
membered. We are partially indebted to Doct. 
S. W. Coggeshall, for a vivid description of that 
bloody battle. He says : — "The carnage was 
frightful. Down the slope of Anthony's Hill, a 
western continuation of Quaker Hiilj the Hessian 
columns and British infantry, twice rushed to the 
assault and were repulsed with great slaughter. 
Sixty were found dead in one spot ; at another, 
thirty Hessians were buried in one grave. — 

Major General Green commanded on the right, 
with four brigades under his immediate command 
V'arnum's Grove's, Corneirs, and Green's per^ 
haps the most. A third time the enemy with des- 
perate courage and increased strength, attempt- 
ed to assail the redoubt, and would have carried 
it, but for- the timely aid of two Continental bat- 
talions dispatched by General Sullivan, to sup- 
p3rt his almost exhausted troops. 

It was in repelling these furious onsets, that 
tue newly raised regiment, under Colonel Green, 



16 



distinguished itself by deeds of desperate valor. 
Posted behind a thicket in the valley, three times 
they drove back the Hessians, who charged re- 
peatedly down the hill to dislodge them, and so 
determined were the enemy in these charges, 
that the day after the battle the Hessian Colonel 
applied to exchange his command, and go to 
New York, because he dare not lead his regi- 
ment again to battle, lest his men would shoot 
him, for having caused them so much loss, hence 
the desperate courage of the enemy availed them 
nothing against the equal valor of the yankees. 
They at last gave way and retreated to their for- 
tified camp on Quaker-Hill, followed closely by 
the Americans, who captured Brady's battery on 
the hill. Sullivan wanted to attack the enemy 
in their works-; but the army had now been 36 
hours without rest or food, and had continually 
been on the march or in battle, the object was 
therefore abandoned. The next morning Sulli- 
van received advices from Washington that Lord 
How was approaching with 6000 troops for the 
relief of Newport ; and also a letter from Boston 
that D' Estagn, could not return as soon as ex^^ 
pected. It was therefore resolved in council of 
officers, to leave the Island- The retreat was 
conducted the next night with great skill.— 

Sullivan brought off his troops with stores and 
baggage ; and early next morning, the British 
neet, with the army of Sir Henry Clinton, was 



17 

seen off Newport from Tiverton Eights. Thia 
was the fleet which the following week burnt New 
Bedford and Fairhaven, and ravaged the Vine- 
yard. 

The loss of the Americans in this great battle 
was 211 —of the British 1023. No wonder that 
Lafayette should say, it was the best fought bat- 
tle of the war. Whole acres of graves of those 
who were killed, and were buried where they fell 
was visible on the farms of Seth and Isaac An- 
thony, until a few years since, — but the plow has 
^passed ovej them and they are gone : — 

The inhabitance of the Island endured great 
suffering, in the attempt to drive off the enemy. 
A party composed of Tories, passed over a por- 
tion of it near Newport, and distrojed every cart 
wheel, wagon and carriage of any description, — 
4Droke every grindstone, sythe, ax and hatchet ; 
'bfurnt the houses and filled up the wells. 

One house near the west shore, now own ed by 
a Mr. Fish, a cannon ball, entered the top ot a 
cradle in which was an infant, but did the little 
occupant no harm. The cradle is yet preserved 
as a memento of that terriable day. 

Tradition says that in this memoriable contest 
in which all did well, the black regiment did tho 
hest of all, though some of tliem were armed only 
with pitch forks. They must have made it a for- 
midable weapon, for-t^ey were the terror of even 
the well disciplined Hessian troops, whom they 



18 

drove before them like sheep. This regiment 
were emancipated slaves and the state paid them. 
Their eminent valor probably is in part at least, 
imputed to the known character of their comman- 
der, who never run or surrendered. Their 
commander, Col. Green, was brutally murdered 
at Cooton River, two years after. 
When the American army were retreating from 
the Island to Tiverton, two soldiers beloning to 
Little Compton, William Hunt and Benedict Pal- 
mer, being almost starved and worn down with 
fighting and marching, left the itanks and ran to 
a large iarm-houee to beg some * milk and cold 
grub. They stated their situation and hunger, 
but they were refused even a drink of cold watei-. 
When they came out, they sawa^largf , iron pot 
standing by the side of the well they carefully 
raised it up and dropped it to the bottom of the 
well, where it remains until this day lor ought 
we know. They were a iamly of tories, and de- 
served worse treatment tliey said. 

Very early one morning a British soldier de- 
serted and swam across Seaconnet river to Little 
Compton, and called at Sanford Almy's near the 
creek, about breakfast time. Mr. Almy gave him 
a good breakfast, which he heartily partook and 
said :— "It gave him a good appetite swiming 
across the ditch this morning ? " 

A singular expression, '^Ditch," for a river 
three or four miles wide. 



19 

When the British took possession of Newport 
and the Island in December, 1T7G, the militia of 
Little Compton and Tiverton, were ordeied into 
service, and were held in readiness for duty oii 
every alarm but soon an arrangement was made 
so tliat only one half were detailed for actual du- 
ty for one month, when they were relieved by the 
other half the succeeding month, and so on alter- 
natel}', until the enemy left Newport in Novem- 
ber, 1TT9. After they had left the Island, Mr. 
William Hunt and others from Little Compton, 
was detailed as Sergeant from. his company to 
guard the shores near Fort Adams, at Newport. 
This was as late as 1781. 

During the revolutionary struggle with Great 
Lritian, Fobes Little, who liad received a colle- 
giale education, and who at that time went by 
the name of Master Little, kept a public house 
or tavern, in Little Compton, the house in which 
the writer ol this was born, and was standing 
a lew years since a short distance north of Oh- 
ver K. Almy's. When the Britioh monarch 
levied a heavy tax- on tea, he felt so indignauo 
that he without delay, destroyed all the tea to be 
found in or about the premises,— also demoiish- 
ing every cup and saucer and every thing pertaui- 
iug to tea drinking ; leaving not a vestige of tlii^; 
d.Ucious beverage, declaring that none oi ids 
hjii.ehold or guests, should be partakers or en^ 
c )urage I^ritish imposts. 



20 

Ephraim Little, son of this oW patriot, was a 
drummer boy in the American army, and was in 
the battle at Bunker Hill, and the writer has the 
identicle drum-sticks that he used at that memo- 
rable battle Juue 17th 1775, and retains them as 
a memento of that event. He also remembers 
well of using the same drum, but through neglect 
or carelessness, the drum was broke. The drum. 
mer was a great uncle to the writer. 

Fobes Little, jr. , a brother of the drumer boy> 
better known as Judge Little, was also in the ar- 
my and his company was ordered to Boston ^ but 
when they had got as lar as Canton, the order 
was countermanded, and they were sent back to 
Rhode Island and stationed at Tiverton Height. 
Every able bodied man was held to duty and to 
bear arms, until peace was declared. 
It seems there was a company organized in Lit- 
tle Compton, called the senior class, whose ages 
exceeded 45 years and upward and probably it 
was the case in other towns, who volunteered 
their service and was accepted by the govern- 
ment and they proved of great service. 

When the United • States declared war with 
Great Britain on the 18th day of June 1812. , it 
created the most acute leelings of excitement with 
the inhabitance of Little Compton, they being on 
the sea coast and easy of access for the enemy ; 
but when His Majesty's Sloop of War Nimrod , 
was stationed at the mouth of Seconnet river in 



21 

1814, as blockade, it roused the most patriotic 
feelings in the breast of every citizen, and more 
especially the indignity of the old revolutionary 
soldiers, who were many at tlmt t«me, and took 
an active part m delending the coast. Every 
able bodied man between 18 years and 45 was 
furnished with a musket, equipage and ammuni- 
tion by the State, and were co-mpeilled to drill 
and practice martial duty, to the neglect of other 
duties required upon the farm. 

The crew of the Nimrod was very annoying to 
the people of this town, especially farmers on the 
shores of the Seconnet river- They would come 
on shore in tlie night, milk their cows, and steal 
tlieir sheep and fowls, and in fact any thing they 
wanted, and sometimes take articles out of pure 
mischief. The people hardly knew, when their 
person and property were safe. 

^V^e well remember at one tfeiie that an old gray 
headed and rusty looking man with a large cane 
called at my grandfather's Judge Fobes Little's, 
very early in the morning and begged for break- 
fast. A small round ^able was -set for him near 
=the fire place^ while the family sat -at the usual 
'table. He eat very fast and hearty and -stared at 
me so ugly, that I drew off from him frightened. 
He would not give any direct answer when ques- 
tioned, but would mumble over something unin- 
telligible. As soon as he had eat, he took hig 
cane and after he got to the door, he turned and 



22 

bowing very politely said:— "My name is John 
Coiineley, and I belong on board of His Majestys 
Brio' Nimrod, and thank you for my breakfast/' 

Grandfather jumped up from the table, caught 
his cane, and made for him saying : — "Get you 
gone, you clouter-lieel puppy or I'll cane you ? '' 
At this his two sons rose from the table and start 
cd for liim, but he was to quick for them. He 
ran and jumped over into the cornner of an orch- 
ard now 0. H. Almy's, and run cross lots to tlic 
b)iore, where a boat was in waiting to take him 
on board the Nimrod. He proved to be a young 
midshipman, as it was afterwards assertained. 

Tiie British took several Vineyard ])oats that 
were employed to carry clay from Gayhead to 
Providence and Taunton. They were large pink 
vstern, sprit-sail two masted boats, and frequently 
there might be seen a fleet of twenty or thirty sail 
of them passing up ,or down the Seconnet river, 
manned by Gayhead -Indians. They would out- 
sail any ordinary craft on the wind or before it. 
The enemy had taken a number of these boats, 
and by using them, often made prizes of our coast- 
ing vessels. They annoyed tlie fishermen by this 
strategy, but people and more especially sailors 
soon became suspicious of every Vineyard boat 
seen upon our waters ; and was careful to givv 
thorn a wide birth. 

At one time they took a small trading Sloop, 
bjaded with flour, and took her to tlie Nimrod. 



.^t 



23 

The sloop was commanded by Capt. Joseph 
Cory of Tiverton Four Corners, who was princi- 
pal owner. She was kept in tow of the Nimrod 
some three or four days with the Captain on board 
hoping that he would ransom her ; but finding 
him a hard ticket and unyielding, they proposed 
taldng out his cargo, and giving him up his vessel. 
The Captain swore by all that's great and good, 
that if they took his cargo, tlicy might keep the 
sloop and go to hell m her for lie wouldn't have her. 
vlfter dalleyiug with liim several days, they final- 
ly gave him up his vessel and cargo, after taking 
out a barrel or. two ot flour. 

One night several Vineyard' -boats, manned by 
J]ritish soldiers, made a riad on the yankee coasl- 
'ing v-esse Is, principally sloops. They took every 
vessel afloat from seaconnet^ point in Little Comp- 
ron to the Stone Bridge Tiverton, — 
They put a man on board of each and got them 
underway, and ordered, them to follow down the 
river to the Nimrod, ''where they expected they 
would hQ ransomed by the owners, at about half 
their value, tliese bei^ig the terms as generally 
understood. During the voyage down the river 
with a head wind, one of the vessels being a poor 
sailor fell astern and to leeward some distancf, 
and when abreast of High Hill off Almy's creek- 
the Eiiglishnan was knocked down, secured and 
pit ])elow. The Captain still kept on his course 
apparently trying to work her down the river, but 



24 

with intcntioiical poor success until lie thought it 
would answer , when he up helm and put back 
up to the Stone Bridge, and escaped although 
persued by one of tlie boates. The others were 
taken to the Nimrod, and afterward redeemed. 

One of these Vineyard boats in possession of 
the enemy, chased on shore at Little Compton, 
at what is called Moses Point, a schooner laden 
Avith iron-ware. The crew made their escape to 
the beach and concealed themselves in a swamp 
near by. The British boarded the schooner and 
threw over-board a large quantity of iron- ware of 
various kinds, in order to float her off, but not 
succeeding they give her up and left without any 
great damage. Some of the articles afterwards 
washed on sliore, and are in use in some of the 
lamilies in Little Compton, at this day. 

At anotlier time my grandfather his three sons, 
Nathaniel, Fobes and Thomas, myself and h cous- 
in Otis Little, were pickrig stones in a meadow 
next to the shore and had a cart and oxen with 
us. A sloop from the eastward came round Sea- 
connet Point, and up the Seconnet river. She 
was soon discovered from the Nimrod which was 
lying off at the mouth of the river, and she was 
in immediate persuit. Tliey put out her Launch 
and Barge, and by their long sweeps gained on 
the sloop rappidly, and soon began firing a 121b. 
cannon at her from the Launch, a number of shot 
passing through her sails, one of which, cut the 



25 

bolt i'0})C of lier mainsail, making an ugly look- 
ing rent. Tlie sloop made directly to the shore 
where we were at work, when a 121b cannon ball 
came whistling directly over our heads and plow- 
ed up the ground but a few yards from us. 
At this the old Judge said : — "Dod-zux boy's we 
must leave or they will kill our cattle ! " 

This was joyful news to iis boys, for we w^-re 
glad to get rid of vrork ; not that we Imd any ap- 
prehension of danger in being so openly exposed 
to tlieir fire. The sloop was run on shore — the 
alarm given, and jjeople began to liasten to the 
shore with their muskets. The bars and gates 
loading to the shore was removed to assist those 
who were anxious to join in the defence. Old 
Poctor Almy, a revolutionary soldier whom wc 
liave already spoken of before, came riding at full 
speed witli his saddle Ijags and gun, shouting for 
the men to hurry along, saying: — '' 1 swarethey 
shan't take that sloop." Sure enough they did 
]iot take lier, for our people gave them such a 
hearty reception from behind the bank wall with 
buck shot and balls, that they were glad to draw 
otT beyond the reach of musketry, — ])ut they did 
not cea-se firing cannon balls merrily, one which 
struck within three feet of Sarah Davenport, au 
aunt of the publislier, who had ventured upon a 
hill and had hoisted a flag handkerchief. The en- 
emy soon left and our people helped get the ves- 
sel off, and she wont on her way up the river. 



„26 

We woi;ili here remark and witli regret, tliat 
while the people on the Seaconnet shores, were 
fighting and defending their rights and property 
against the encroachments -of the Nimrod's crew, 
tlferc were those in the south.and east sections of 
the town boldly supplying them.with information 
and provisions to any . extent, making a grand 
speculation ont of it. Fortunately a gang was 
caught while returning from one of thoge visits to 
the°Nimrod, and was dealt with, to their morti- 
fication, which distroyed their enterprise. 

On the 25th day of June, 1813,:.a severe battle 
was faught at the John Wo-odman shore, near 
Almy's Creek, where they chased on shore a sloop 
laden with flour and corn. The launch aad-barg^ 
from the Nimrod followed her from . Seconuct 
point firing upon her all the way up the river. 
When the sloop was run on shore, the crew left 
her and hastened to SanfordAlmy'?. and wanted 
his sons to protect their vessel and cargo. Three 
of Mr. Almy's boys, Frederic, Sanford and Par- 
don took their nuiskets, and furnishing the crew 
with such weapons of war as was at hand, and 
started for the shore— but on their way, they was 
fired at by the enemy, the cannon ball striking 
near them. The Captain and crew of the sloop, 
turned and ran into the woods where they re- 
mained until all was over with. The Almy boys 
resolutely proceeded to the bank wall where they 
^vere joined l)y Edward and his son Humphrey 



27 

and Robert Woodman, while others continued to 
come. They commenced firing at tlie barge a&^ 
it approached the sloop. One old gentleman 
Robert Woodman, more daring than others, ran 
down the bank which was very high and steep, 
and concealed behind a large rock, and as the nc- 
emy approached, he peppered them well with 
buck-shot, while the Launch lay off beyond the 
reaohof musket balls, and kept up a continual 
lire from a 12 pound cannon to prevent our men 
from changing their position to a better advant- 
age for crippling them. When the sloop was run 
on shore, the crew left her sails all standing,— 
but a sailor, Ephraim Little a brother of the wri- 
ter went on board lowered and cut away the jib. 
and tlu-ew it overboard, but came near losing his 
llsb from a cannon balL The barge came in di. 
'.vvtly in range of the sloop and she lying partial- 
ly broadside to the shore, it afforded tlie crew ot 
the barge quite a protection. 

As soon as they got on board, they settled the 
mainsail of the sloop, which concealed their per- 
sons. Notwithstanding this our people kept up l 
brisk fire of musketry— and the re-enforcements 
from Tiverton, and the approach of two Flotillas 
or Gun-boats under command of Captain Samuel 
Clark of Portsmouth R.L, the enemy was com- 
i)clled to leave after setting fire to the vessel, leav 
ino- a large quantity of blood upon the deck ; two 
muskets, two boarding pistols and two seamen's 



28 

caps. One musket was taken by Mr. Woodman 
as trophy of that victory. I have shot those gun 
many a tmie, and they are retained as a relic. 

Our people sufferd no loss : but the enemy's 
loss was reported to have been severe. Several 
were killed and wounded and were carried away 
in the launch or barge. In all probability their 
loss would have been greater had Gov. Jones' 
powder been good— but it proved to be almost us- 
less, scarcely carrying a ball one hundred yards. 

We obtain the following facts of the bat- 
tle from the Kewport Mereury of ^iine 26tJi 

1813. 

"On Friday last a Launch and Barge from the 
brig Nimrod with about 40 men, chased on shore 
about one mile south of Fogland-ferry in tlic east 
passage a sloop belojaglng to Nantucket IVom New- 
York, with a cargo of flour -and cGi'ii. The crew 
left the sloop, when she was immediately taken 
possession of by the British and set on fire.— 
The militia in the neighborhood assembled as 
soon as posible, and from behind a stone 
wall near the edge of the bank ; commenced firing 
upon the British, and soon compelled them to 
quit the sloop with the loss of two men. The fire 
was immediately extinguished and the sloop was 
got off and carried further up the river. The en- 
emy had possession of the sloop for so short a 
time, that neither the vessel or cargo were male 
Vially injured. 



Several 12 pound shot were picked np on the 
shore and in the bank and lickls, which was fir- 
ed from the Launch. The spirited conduct of 
the militia of Little Compton, is entitled to the 
highest praise. We are gratiiied in saying, that 
no injury was sustained," 

During this engagmeut, Mrs. Deborah Grinnell 
wife of Samuel T. Grinnell, and daughter of the 
aforesaid Robert Woodman, was casting leaden 
bullets and sending them to mv men as fast as 
iliey could be run in the moulds. Robert Wood- 
man, was a mail full of heroic i.luck, and much 
attached to fishing' hikI gunning, and for his and 
others aocoiiimodation, had a small house erect- 
ed on West Island Seconnet Point, where he 
lVe(iuentlv would spend two or three days. 
V le^v weeks after this battle, while he was upou^ 
■ liis Island— the first he. discovered was one of 
the Nimrods barge's with about 30 men, landing 
upon the inland. The wliole crew left the barge 
withtlieir guns^Rd -equipage, and came up to 
his house. They made special inquires about 
the people on the main land- To save hims.li , 
he told them that he knew nothing what was go^ 
in.on-thathewasapoor fisherman and only 
w^nt off occasionly to sell fish and to procure pro- 
visions. A sol^lier took up an ax, which was ly- 
ino> nea. the house, and swore that he would cut 
tire house down, at the time striking a smar 
V,ow into the corner. An officer drew his swoid 



30 

and told liim he would run liim through if lie at- 
tempted another hlow. They asked, 'nfhe 
knew anything about the battle up the river" — 
"if any were killed or wounded ?" They told 
him, "that it took two or three weeks to pick the 
buck-shot out of their backs and arms." 

Mr. Woodman said, — " That he was very par- 
ticular not to tell them that he was the identical 
person that poped so smartly at them from be- 
hind the big rock." 

On or about the first day of June 1814, His 
Britannic Majesty's sloop of war Nimrod, chased 
on shore at Smith's beach on the south east end 
of Rhode Island called Setuwest beach, a Sweed- 
ish brig "Little Francis," from St. Barts,.with a 
cargo of molasses and sugar. As soon-, as the al- 
arm was given, the militia of .Middlctown .under 
Capt. George Sweet, and the third company of 
militia of Newport, commanded by^Gapt, Stepheii 
Pierce nnd adet achment of .^eamen from. United 
States Flotilla^ I'c; aired to the beach as soon as 
possible to protect the brig, but having no large 
cannon, their efforts with muskets proved ineftec- 
ual. The Nimrod fired upward of two hundred 
cannon balls, one of which killed John Smith and 
took off the leg of Isaac Basset, near his body. 
Tlic Little Francis was boarded by the Nimrods 
l)arge, and was set on fire in three different pia- 
rcs,— Her stern av as burnt to the water's edge, 
ii]id a great part of her cargo distroyed ; but by 



greirj exertion of tiie luiiitia the arc was ihr'ally 
extiBguisbed. The said John Smith, that was 
killed and Basset that had bis \c.^ sliot off Doar 
his body, volunteered to go on board the Brig 
to put out the fire, and had returned and with 
others were hauVng up the boat when tlie i.Mal 
shot did its work." It was afterward ascertain- 
ed, that Smith was a'near relative to the Cap- 
tain of the Nimrod, who very much regreted the 
result. The Nimrod came to an anchor a ^idc 
distau.e from cho .shore, out of the reacii of the 
cannon of the Newport Artillery, which appeared 

on the field of battle at rather a late hour. 

It was reported that the boy's m^ade a fine days 
work in picking up balls. When a ball etruck 
upon ihe sandy beach, some dozen boys would 
put chase after it before it spent its force. 

Two iriui-boats which were up lhe river got «u 
der wav and came down part of the way, and re- 
turned back, fearin<^ to attack the Nimrod, but 
after she had hauled oa^and gone, the gun boats 
came down full of battle and fight. 

A Captain Mayhew, during the Blockade, ran 
a little schooner from Westport-point to Vergin 
la, and OB a return trip came in through Long 
T.land Sound, where he was chased by one of iho 
Nimrod'8 terders. He run his vessel into a nar. 
row channel on Long Island., and down sad. 
. In cominiv down the Sound the next morning 
he saw a Sloop close under the land near Boint 



32 

Judith, standing out on the wind appearentlj to 
cut him off. The Captain told his men that .is 
soon as he neared her, he would fire a gun, and 
if it was an enemy they would keep on, but if a 
yankee, they would run. No sooner then he fir- 
ed they up helm snd put back to Newport badly 
fr ghtened. The sloop belonged at WcBtnort and 
when the Captain found out who it .v/as, he was 
angry and chagrined. Captain Mayliew run into 
Buzzard's Bay, where he saw two of the Nimrod 
boats lying directly in his track. He set a laigo 
square-sail, and when he came near them, he told 
the man at helm to run them down; but the 
schooner sheered a trifle and just cleared them: 
but as they passed, they sent a volley of musket 
balls on board, but without any scrioiiK efTect. 
and he arrived in port safely. 

The Nimrod afterward was engaged in tlic bat- 
tle at Stonington, where slie was badly cut Uj 
pieces. She was so crippled tb.at she had to draw, 
off for repairs during the higlit of the buttle, aud 
never appeared on our coast again. 











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